Cuckoo Cleeves
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| Regions \ Mendip \ Central \ Cuckoo Cleeves |
Contents |
Location
Grid Reference: ST 5584 5048
Altitude: 260m
The entrance is located in the bottom of a large depression, marked by Hawthorn trees in the middle ground of the above photo.
To find the cave drive west from the Hunters (Hillgrove Road) for approximately 1Km. You should find a lay-by with a gated field entrance and stile on the left, opposite farm buildings on the right. Park in the lay-by but leave enough room for farm vehicle access. Either use the stile or go through the gate and follow the dry stone wall heading north to the wood on Stock Hill. Over the next stile (or through the gate) and after about 300m you'll come to a stile on your left which allows access to the depression.
Access
The cave is gated and access is controlled by CSCC on behalf of the landowner. It is fitted with the standard CSCC padlock and a key is available from most Mendip clubs, no access charge.
This is the old lid. A new lid was fitted in January 2007.
The new lid was fitted and drainage improved at the same time. The conditions during the weekend of fitting were less than ideal!
Description
An excellent collector's piece. The Cave (strictly speaking the surface depression and mineral rights) were recently put up for sale (August 2005) and purchased by a caver in the Wessex Cave Club, in order to preserve future access for the caving community.
A sporty little cave with a short entrance pitch down some concrete rings - it's fun to slide down the entrance rings unaided but a ladder is definitely needed for the exit.
The cave descends steeply with a few interesting climbs near the entrance and terminates in a dig - most recently dug, but long abandoned by the Wessex Cave Club (see Pete and Aubrey in the Hunters on a Wednesday night).
There is a small man's trip that can be done by the most slenderest of cavers, which takes you to the "Lake" dived by Pete Moody ??? years ago - no way on.
An excellent beginners' cave but quite tiring for the unfit due to its steep nature.
